Barrette



Patented Feb. 6, 1945 oFFlj'cE BARRETTE I George Noel Bolinger, Shelbyville, Ill., assignor to Sta-Rite Ginnie-Lou, Inc., Shelbyville, Ill., a corporation of Delaware i Application October 23, 1944, Serial No. 559,9353

' V7 Claims. (CL 132-48) This invention relates to barrettes.

An important object is to provide a single unitary barrette construction which is simple and ecient in operation for holding the hair of the wearer in place.

A further object is to provide a novel barrette which is formed of a single piece of normally resilient material to provide the necessary resilience where needed, and to so alter those portions of the device where stiffness is desired to provide the necessary degree of rigidity. e

A further object is to provide such a device wherein a firm hair-clamping action is provided to prevent the device from becoming displaced, Without the use of gripping teeth and without the hair coming into contact with any sharp edges which damage the hair.

A further object is to provide a unitary barrette wherein the elements forming the means for clasping the two arms ofthe device in operative position are so shaped as to positively prevent disengagement of the two arms.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent during the course of the following description.

In the drawing I. have shown one embodiment of the invention. In this showing.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the device,

Figure 2 is a central longitudinal sectional view through the same,

Figure 3 is a face view of the device,

Figure 4 is a detailed perspective view of, the device showing the clasp elements disconnected to illustrate thel position normally assumedr by the clamping arm, Y

Figure 5 is a detailed sectional view on line 5-5 of Figure 1, and

Figure 6 is a similar view on line 6 6 of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawing, it will be noted that the barrette is formed of a single piece of material, and such material is of such nature as to possess a relatively high degree of resiliency. Thev device comprises a body Ill and a clamping arm I I, the body being relatively highly arched transversely as at I2 with the longitudinal'edges of the body flared as at I3. The body is relatively deep intermediate its ends as shown in Figures 2 and 5, the downwardly extending sides tapering to decrease in width toward the ends of the body. As fshown in Figure 3, the width of the body decreases from the'center toward the ends thereof: The cross sectional shape of lthe lbody is such as to lendl rigidity thereto, this rigidity lbeing increasedv bythe ared edges I3.` While the depth of the body decreases from the center toward the ends thereof, the greatest strain on the device, in

use, is present at the center of the body and accordingly the highest degree of rigidity is desirable in such region of the length-of the body.

It will be apparentv that Vthe bodyis curved transversely and longitudinally from end to end, and the metal of the device, at one extremity of the body, is flat in crosssection and bent toform a loop I 5. The atness of the metal around such loop takes advantage of the natural resilience of the material, and it is obvious that the arm` I I tends to assume the position shown in Figure 4.

The clamping arm II is`- curved from end to end to generally correspond tothe uppermost curvature of the body ID, as shown in Figure 2. and is curved transversely rather sharply as indicated by the numeral I6 in Figures 5 and 6.l

This transverse curvature lends the arm II a relatively high degree of rigidity, but such rigidity issubstantially lower than that possessed by the body I0. Accordingly the central portion of the arm I I is adapted to give to some extent when clamped about the hair as 4will be-further referred to later. The transverse curvature I6 of the arm I I terminates at the adjacent end ofthe loop I5, as indicated by the numeral I'I in Figure 2. l v

'Il'he end'of the body I0 opposite the loop I5 is flattened and curved as at I8 substantially on an arcof a circle, such curvature generally corresponding to the curvature ofthe loop I 5 so that the device presents an `almost perfectly symmetrical figure. The extremity of the curved portion I8 extends inwardly as at I94 (Figures 2y and 6) to enter the channel formed by the curvature I6 of the clamping armV II. The member I8 as a Whole. therefore,'forms,a the arm II in position.

The operation of the device will befrather obvious from the foregoing description. The strand of hair to be held by the barrette will be suitably gathered in place on the head, whereupon the user will place her thumb vat one side of the body I0 with her forenger and middle finger engaging the opposite side of the body. With the arm I I unhooked, as shown in Figure 4, the user may then slip the free end'of the arm `I I beneath the strand of hair to be clamped: The end of thearm II is rounded as shown in dotted lines in Figure 5, thus facilitating the slipping of the arm I I` into position without any c'atchng of the end of such arm in the hair. After thefdvice has Vbeen' thus paced in the desired positingthe clasp f for holding according to the thickness of the strand of hair clamped between the body I and clamping arm- The inturned end I9 of the hook- I8 engages within the channel formed in the arm II and 'such mode of contact between' these elementsprevents lateral displacement of the free end off This arrangement also permits whatever elongation of the arm II is necessaryl the arm II.

as the latter is flexed by the thickness of the hair clamped in the device.

It will be apparent that a tight clamping` action is. provided, but atthe same time the hair is not engaged by any teeth or rough edges, the edge'sof the arm I I being turned almost directly inwardly and the edges I3 of the body I0 being turned outwardly. The maximum clamping action occurs between the outer surface of the arm II and the two closest points thereto on the inner surface of the body I0such two points being at the junction of the out-turned edges I3 with the main portion of the body I0. Accordingly the device provides two distinct and efficient clamping points withoututilizing any edges or teeth, and accordingly the device may be readily used without breaking or cutting the hair.

The arched formation of the body I0 andarm II provide substantial rigidityin the members.

referred to While the flat metal of the loop 1I 5 permits the free flexing ofthe arm I0 relative to the body. The hook I8 is similarly formed flatin section, and such portion ofthe body as well as the loop portion I are adapted to give to some extent kt0 compensate for a substantial thickness ofhair in the device. If the thickness of the hair being clampedvk in the device is such that the relatively limited give of the arm II provides too tight a clamping` action, the p ortions I5 and I8 of the device will add somedegree of flexibility so as to accommodate a relatively thick strand of hair.

The device, as stated; is formed of av single piece of .material and accordingly is relatively economically made, and the eliminationof hinge pins as commonly employed in a device of this,

character adds greatly to the ruggedness of the device, there being nothing whatever in any. part of the device to become Worn so as to render the device incapable of use. Obviously the device may be suitably colored or otherwise ornamented.

It is to be understood that the form of the invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same and that vario-us changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing fromI the spirit of the invention or the scope ofthe Asubjoined claims.

Iclaim:

1. Av hair-holding device comprising a single pieceof material bentrin a loop intermediate its endsto form a body and a clamping arm, said loop being resilient, the end. of said body opposite said loop beingiormedas ahook to engage .the corresponding end tudinallyand.transversely andsaid clamping arm of said clamping arm, said body-and said clampingarm being curved long i.Y

being substantially narrower than said body throughout the major portion of the length of the latter to clamp the hair between both edge portions of said clamping arm and the adjacent portions of said body.

2. A hair-holding device comprising a single piece of material bent in a loop intermediate its ends to form a body and a clamping arm, said loop being resilient, the; end of! said1 body opposite said loop being formed" as a hook to engage the corresponding end of said clamping arm, said body and said clamping arm being curved longitudinally and transversely and said clamping arm being substantially narrower than said bodytthrougliouty the `major portion of the length of'v theV latter' to clamp the hair between both edge portions ofsad clamping arm and the adjacent portions: ofI said body, the longitudinal edge portions of said body being ared outwardly to increase the rigidity of said body and to present smooth inner surfacesthereof'for engagement with the hair.

3. A hair-holding, device comprising., a single pieceof material'bent in a" loop4 intermediate; its: ends to form a body and a clampingl arm; said loopvbeingresilient; the yend. of said bodyr opposite said loop being formed as a hook to. engage thef corresponding: end of said clamping arm, said-A body and saidclamping arm being curved longitudinally and transverselyand saidfclamping arinl being substantially narrowen than` said body throughoutthe majorfportion ot the :length of the latter to'. clamp. the hair: betweenboth. edge por# tions.r of; said` clamping: arm. and the. adjacenty portions of said.body,.the.curvatures ofsaidlbody' andy said clamping.,arnfnbeingv such as 11o-'impart'.

a substantial degree. oirigidi/ty to' both, the: degree of: rigidityof saidiclamping. arm beingless than that-of said body vwhereby-'the hair clampedinlthe `device will ilexlsaidclampingv arm relativey to said1body;.said loop and said hook portions being flat in cross-sectional.V shape so as to pose sessasubstantial degree' of' resiliency/to increase thedistance through which saidclamping arm is movable from said body bythe hair clamped in thedevice;

4. A hair-holding devicel comprising a single sheet of' normally/resilient material bent intermediatelits ends-to form-abodyfand a clamping arm connected by a loop, said body-'beingfsubstantially Wider* than said clamping f arm and relativelydeeply channeled longitudinally whereby it possesses a-relatively-highdegree of' rigidity, said clamping arm being longitudinally channeled throughout the greater portionof' its length' to reduce'its normal resiliency' and to impart to it a degree of rigidity substantially lessthan that stantially wider. than said clamping army and` relativelyk deeply channeled longitudinally wherebyy it .possesses a .relatively high-degree of rigidity; said Y clamping.. armbeing. longitudinally.V channeled .throughout 4the greater` portion :of lits length to4 reducezitsnormall resiliencyy anditof.- imp'arttow it a degree of rigidity substantially less than that of said body, Said body .being extended at the end opposite said loop to iorrn a hooktengageable with said arm to hold it in closed position relative to said body, said hook being so. formed that its extremity extends into the channel of said arm to tend to prevent lateral displacement of the adjacent end of said arm relative to said hook, said body decreasing in Width from its center toward its ends and having its longitudinal edges flared outwardly to present smooth surfaces for engagement with the hair arranged between said body and said clamping arm.

6. A hair-holding device comprising a single sheet of normally resilient material bent intermediate its ends to form a body and a clamping arm connected by a loop, said body being substantially wider than said clamping arm and relatively deeply channeled longitudinally whereby it possesses a relatively high degree of rigidity, said clamping arm being longitudinally channeled throughout the greater portion of its length to reduce its normal resiliency and to impart to it a degree of rigidity substantially less than that of said body, said body being extended at the end opposite said loop to form a hook engageable with said arm to hold it in closed position relative to said body, said hook being so formed that its extremity extends into the channel of said arm to tend to prevent lateral displacement of the adjacent end of said arm relative to said hook, said hook and said loop being flat in cross-section so as to retain a substantial degree of resiliency pressure of hair clamped by the device,said arm may partake of some-movement away from said body. t i

` 7. A hair-holding device fcornprising a 'single sheet of normally resilient material bent intermediate its ends to form a body and a clamping arm connected 'by a loop, said body being subf v stantially Widerthan said clamping arm and relatively deeply channeled longitudinally whereby it possesses a relatively high degree of rigidity, saidclamping arm being longitudinally. channeledthroughout the greater'portion of its length to reduce its normal resiliency and to impart to it a degree of rigidity substantially less than that of said body, said body being extended at the end flared outwardly to present smooth surfaces for.v vengagement with the hair arranged betweensaid ybody and said clamping arm,.said hook and said -loop being at in cross-section so as to retain a substantial degree of resiliency therein whereby, in addition to flexing underthe-pressure ofhair clamped by the device, said arm may partake of some movement away'from said body.

` GEORGE NOEL BOLINGER.

vtherein whereby, in addition to flexing under the 

